Tile and grout cleaning brushroll

ABSTRACT

A brushroll having bristle tufts of different flexibility suitable to cleaning floor tile and grout between the tile, and for sweeping up debris, including liquid floor cleaner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to floor cleaning brushrolls, and more particularly to a brushroll intended for use in a machine used to clean grouted tile floors.

The tile and grout cleaning brushroll of the invention generally comprises two alternating series of V-shaped rows of bristles that form chevron patterns. One series of rows has bristle tufts stiff enough to extend into the grout channels of the floor and clean the grout. The grout cleaning bristles in each row alternate with more flexible bristles that flex when the brushroll is rotated during operation of the machine to thereby provide the flexibility that permits the stiff grout cleaning bristles to get into the grout channels. The other of the two series of bristles is made up of sweeping bristle tufts that are finer and more flexible than the other tufts of the brushroll. The sweeping bristle tufts cooperate in cleaning the tile surfaces and are able to sweep up debris, including liquid cleaner used in cleaning tile floors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the brushroll;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of part of the brushroll of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an end view taken in the plane of 3-3 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is an end view taken in the plane of 4-4 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The brushroll of the invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10. It is comprised of a dowel 11 that carries chevron patterns of V-shaped rows of bristles. As shown, the chevron patterns are separated by a drive belt area 12 that is engaged by a belt drive (not shown) of the tile and grout cleaning machine in which the brushroll is intended to be mounted. A ball bearing assembly 13 is at each end of the brushroll 10.

The chevron patterns are made up of alternating rows 20,21 of bristle tufts that are spaced equally around the dowel 11. The bristle tufts in each row are equally spaced apart and are staggered toward the center of the brushroll 10 with respect to the bristle tufts adjacent rows.

In the illustrated example of the invention, each row 20 is rotated 120 degrees from the end tuft A to the tuft A1 at the apex of the row, and 105 degrees from the tuft A1 to the tuft A2 at the other end of the row. Thus, each row 20 is rotated a total of 225 degrees from one end through the apex to the other end. Each row 21 is shown to be rotated 105 degrees from its end tuft B to the tuft B1 at the apex and 105 degrees from the tuft B2 at the apex of the row to the end of tuft B3. There is no rotation between the two apex tufts B1 and B2. Thus each row 21 is rotated a total of 210 degrees from one end through the apex to the other end of the row.

Each of the rows 20 has alternating bristle tufts 25,26. The bristle tufts 25 are stiff enough to penetrate into the grout channels to clean the grout. The alternating tufts 26 are thinner and more flexible than the tufts 25. The tufts 26 flex when in cleaning contact with the tile surfaces. The flexibility of the tufts 26 allows the stiffer tufts 25 to get into the grout channels.

The rows 21 are made up of bristle tufts 30 that are finer and more flexible than the bristle tufts 25,26. The tufts 30, which cooperate with the other tufts of the brushroll in cleaning tile surfaces, are sweeping tufts that have the capability of picking up debris, including liquid cleaner applied to the tiles as part of the cleaning procedure. The tufts 30 are longer than the tufts 25,26. During rotation of the brushroll, the tufts 30 co-act with part of the machine in which the brushroll is mounted so that material swept up by the tufts is caused to fall into a container in the machine.

In a specific example of the invention, the bristle tufts 20 have a diameter of 0.011 inches, the bristle tufts 21 have a diameter of 0.008 inches, and the tufts 30 have a diameter of 0.006 inches. The ends of the tufts 20,21 are on a circular diameter of 2.415 inches and the ends of the longer tufts 30 are on a diameter of 2.475 inches. In this specific example, the tufts in every row are staggered so that the tufts are displaced 0.156 inches toward the center of the brushroll.

In use, the brushroll is rotatably mounted in a tile cleaning machine and a liquid tile cleaner is applied to the floor. When the machine is actuated, the brushroll is rotatably driven to clean the tiles and the grout between them. At the same time, spent cleaner liquid and debris are swept up by the bristles 30 and deposited into a container in the machine.

It is contemplated that variations and modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically disclosed. 

What is claimed:
 1. A brushroll for a tile and grout cleaning machine comprising a cylindrical dowel and two alternating series of V-shaped rows of bristle tufts each arranged around said dowel in chevron patterns , one of the series having grout cleaning bristle tufts stiff enough to enter the grout channels of a tile floor to clean the grout when the brushroll is rotated, and the other of the series of V-shaped rows being sweeping bristle tufts capable of sweeping up debris, including liquid floor cleaner, and assisting in cleaning the floor tile surfaces.
 2. A brushroll as claimed in claim 1 wherein said dowel has a center belt drive portion, and wherein chevron patterns of bristles extends from said center portion toward both ends of said dowel.
 3. A brushroll as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one series of V-shaped rows includes bristle tufts that are more flexible than said grout cleaning bristle tufts.
 4. A brushroll as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sweeping bristle tufts are finer and more flexible than the other bristles of said brushroll.
 5. A brushroll as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one series of V-shaped rows includes bristle tufts that disposed between and more flexible than said grout cleaning bristle tufts.
 6. A brushroll as in claim 1 wherein said rows of bristle tufts are equally spaced apart around said dowel.
 7. A brushroll as in claim 1 wherein each of said first series of V-shaped rows is rotated 225 degrees from one end through the apex to the other end.
 8. A brushroll as in claim 1 wherein each of V-shaped rows are said second series is rotated 210 degrees from one end through the apex to the other end.
 9. A rotatable brushroll for use in a tile and grout cleaning machine comprising a dowel and chevron patterns made up of two alternating series of V-shaped rows of bristle tufts, one of said series having grout cleaning tufts stiff enough to get into the grout channels of a tile floor to clean the grout and alternating more flexible tufts that flex when in cleaning engagement with the tile surfaces, and the other of series being sweeping bristle tufts that cooperate in cleaning the tile surfaces and capable of sweeping up debris, including liquid floor cleaner, during cleaning operation of the machine, said sweeping tufts being longer, finer and more flexible than the other tufts of the brushroll.
 10. A brushroll as in claim 9 wherein the bristle tufts in each row are equally spaced apart and all of the rows are equally spaced around said dowel.
 11. A brushroll as in claim 9 wherein the tufts of the adjacent rows are staggered toward the center of the brushroll.
 12. A brushroll as in claim 9 having chevron patterns separated by a belt drive portion of said brushroll. 